Interview with Australian Spearfishing Champion Ian Puckeridge

This interview with Ian Puckeridge aka ‘Pucko’ has been a longtime goal for Turbo and I. Pucko is a multiple time Australian and New Zealand spearfishing champion as well as representing Australia over a long period of time in international events. With 40+ years spent spearfishing, an 83kg Dogtooth taken with a Pranger, 5m great white encounter in terrible vis and finding thousands of dollars in casino chips in Sydney Harbour this makes for an entertaining and interesting interview.

Noob Spearo is stoked to bring this interview to you in partnership with Adreno

14:00 Scary moment: 5m Great White Shark in dirty water. The White Pointer was ‘as round as a car’ and came in after he shot a 15kg (30lb) Yellowtail Kingfish. ‘Looked like a nightmare from the bottom’ he said.

18:00 Ian Puckeridge Veterans Vault – Spearfishing Competitions

What does an Australian Spearfishing Comp look like? What is a common format etc?

What makes a good comp diver/pair?

What are some crucial personal traits?

What are some of the different formats for spearfishing competitions around the world?

What would you most like to see changed in the spearfishing competition formats?

What are some good tactics or strategy to follow on a comp day?

What comp result are you most proud of?

It looks like your son Aaron is a chip of the old block – do you see him competing like you have for so long and so successfully?

What is a good setup for young guys just wanting to start in spearfishing competitions?

What are some good tactics for people starting out in comps?

Some big takeaways

Scouting the area – knowing what fish will be there on the day

Planning your drop points

Knowing the species and relative points associated

Swim 5-6 km before you start diving some days!

KISS – Ian’s go to is a 1.3m Railgun single rubber, float and floatline.

Spearfishing Competition result most proud of – Becoming the 2007 New Zealand Spearfishing Champion.

Still diving in recent years in the same comp with 70 year old kiwi spearo John Ross

Shrek is a Brisbane based Spearo, Podcast Co-Host and Blogger. Initially experiencing the underwater world through scuba diving, the hunter gatherer orientation quickly became apparent along with the enjoyment of breath-hold diving.